NE Kansas mayor leaving office after 29 years

Wednesday

Jan 2, 2013 at 4:00 PM

The mayor of the northeast Kansas community of Lansing is preparing to leave the office he first won 29 years ago.

AP

The mayor of the northeast Kansas community of Lansing is preparing to leave the office he first won 29 years ago.The Leavenworth Times reports Kenneth Bernard will retire Thursday as his successor, current City Councilman Billy Blackwell, takes the oath of office.Bernard has served as mayor of Lansing almost continuously since 1983. He took a short break from 1991 to 1993 before winning the office again.He decided against seeking another term in 2012. Blackwell was elected mayor in a three-way race in November.Bernard will be honored at a reception Thursday night in the Lansing community center.Lansing is a city of about 11,000 people, located on the Missouri River. The city is home to the Lansing Correctional Facility, formerly known as the Kansas State Penitentiary.